Bridging plug



March 27, 1951 e. FTURECHEK BRIDGING PLUG 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.6502651 7 ERA-CHER Arroevsx Original Filed Jan. 20, 1942 Patented Mar.27, 1951 BRIDGING PLUG George F. Turechek, Los Angeles, Calif., assignorto Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of DelawareOriginal application January 20, 1942, Serial No.

427,457, now Patent No. 2,382,455, dated Allgust 14, 1945.

Divided and this application May 19, 1945, Serial No. 594,708

8 Claims.

My invention relates to bridging plugs; that is, to devices which arelowered into a well casin to plug or close the casing at some pointabove the bottom of the well. This application is a disegmental retainerrings for the packing sleeve with one of the segments removed;

Figure 6 is an elevational view similar to Figure 1, showing thebridging plug set within a vision of my copending application, SerialNo. 6 casing, the casing being shown fragmentarily and 427,457, filedJanuary 20, 1942, now Patent No. in section; 2,382,455. Among theobjects of my invention Figure7isafragmentary longitudinal sectionalare: viewv thereof taken through 'i-l of Figure 6;

First, to provide a bridging plug which sets or Figure 8 is a transversesectional view thereof locks against movement in either direction and 10taken through 8-8 of Figure 6, showing particuwhich incorporates apacking element to comlarly the arrangement of the slips and theirwedgpletely close and seal the casing; ing members;

Second, to provide a bridging plug which in- Figure 9 is a fragmentarylongitudinal seccludes a novel slip and cone or wedging arrangetionalview similar to Figure 7 showing a modiment employing two sets of Slipswherein a minified form of slip and wedging means, the view mum axialmovement of the slips along the casing being taken substantially through99 of Figwall is required in order tov move the slips from ure 19 theirinitial or retracted position to their set or Figure 10 is a transversesectional View thereof locked position, and virtually no axial movementtaken through ill-Iii of Figure 9; and of the slips is required afterengaging the casing 20 Figure 11 is an elevational view of one of the tobring both sets of slips into locking engagemodified slip members. ment;My bridging plug includes a mandrel or body I Third, to provide abridging plug having conwhich is tubular in form but is closed at itslower fronting wedge members so arranged that slips end by a head member2. The mandrel l is conmounted on each of the wedge members are urgednected by a shear pin A or other suitable means into operating positionby abutment shoulders to a setting tool member B, indicatedfragmentarprovided on the other wedge member, so that as ily in Figure2. The head member 2 may be prothe wedge members are moved axiallytoward vided with equalizing or circulating valves such each other theslips are expanded; as shown in Patent No. 2,249,172 issued July 15,

Fourth, to provide a bridging plug which is so 1941. designed that theparts may be made of easily The upper end of the head member 2 forms adrillable or friable material, so that it may be frusto-conical shoulder3 around which fits a drilled up if it is desired to remove-the bridgingsegmental retainer ring 4 comprising a series of plug; and segmentalmembers having circumferentially Fifth, to provide a bridging plug whichis paroverlapping tongues 5 and t which remain overticularly designed tobe lowered on a wire line lapped when the ring is expanded into contactand set by a wire line operated setting tool such with the casing, asshown in Figure 6. The reas disclosed in Patent No. 2,266,382 issuedDetainer ring 4 is provided with an annular groove cember 16, 1941. lwhich receives a tie wire 8 for initially holding With the above andother objects in view, as the segments comprising the ring around themay appear hereinafter, reference is directed to mandrel I. One end ofthe ring is shaped to conthe accompanying drawings, in which: form tothe frusto-conical shoulder 3 while the Figure 1 is an elevational Viewof my bridging other end of the ring is provided with an inner plug asit appears initially when being lowered bevel 9 and an outer bevel l0which coact with a into a well casing; similarly beveled end of apacking sleeve H.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudi- The packing sleeve ismore fully disclosed in Patnal sectional view thereof taken through 2--2of ent No. 2,249,171 issued July 15, 1941. The upper Figure 1; end ofthe packing sleeve coacts with a second Figure 3 is an enlargedtransverse sectional segmental retainer ring 4. view taken through 3-3of Figure 2, showing par- 5 Above the packing sleeve the mandrelreceives ticularly the clutch ring or locking ring; a pair of slipexpanders I2 and i3. The lower- Figure 4 is another transverse sectionalView most slip expander l2 forms at its lower end a taken through 44 ofFigure 1, showing particufrusto-conical shoulder I i similar to theshoulder larly the slips and their expander wedges; 3 which coacts withthe upper segmental re- Figure 5 is an end elevational View of one ofthe tainer ring 4.

The slip expanders I2 and i3 are provided with frusto-conical wedgingportions 85 and I6, respectively, which converge toward each other.These portions are provided with axially directed slots H and l 8,respectively, which form corresponding axially directed tongues 19 and20. The tongues IQ of the lower slip expander fit into the slots I8 ofthe upper slip expander and, similarly, the tongues 20 of the upper slipexpander fit into the slots ii of the lower slip expander.

The lower slip expander. l2..receives. aset f slips 2! which ride uponthe on ues. wand-fit into the slots l8 of the upper slip expander,abutting against the upper extremities of the slots. Similarly, a set ofslips 22 ride upon the tongues of the upper expander and fit into theslots I T abutting the lower extremities thereof.

When the slip expanders are moved axially toward each other the lowerslip expander urges the slips 22 of the upper slip expander upwardly and.outwardlythereon and, similarly, the. .l pper slip expander urges theslips of the lower slip expander along the tongues I9.

The slips 2i and 22 overlap axially when in their initial position andare provided Withchannels 23 which align circumferentially so thatasingle tie wire Zimay be Wrapped aroundboth sets of slips to hold themagainst their respective expanders. As best shown in Figures 2 and 7,the slip '2 IV has saw-tooth shaped serrations facing in a directionaway fromthe tapering surface 15 of the slip expander I2 and the slip 22hassimi- 1 larlyshaped serrations which face in adirection away from thetapered surface 16 of the slip expander l3. By this arrangementanytendency toward axial movement of the plug. after setting of theslips will tend to cause further expansion cfthe slips.

A sleeve 25 is screw-threaded to the upper slip expander l3 and definestherewith an internal channel 26 which receives av clutch ring ,orlooking ring 2?. The clutch ring isprovidedwith internal teeth which areadapted to coactwith correspondingteeth 28 provided on the mandrel whenthe slip expander 13 is forced downwardly the bridging plug is set, bypulling upwardly on themandrel and forcing downwardly on the sleeve 25.This compresses the packing sleeve until the shear pins 29 give way,thereupon the slip expanders move toward each other, breaking the 'tiewireZA.

The packing sleeve, in compressing, exerts, sufficient force on thesegmental retainer rings l. to

. cause these rings to expand outwardly against the casing as shown inFigure 6. The retainer rings, when so expanded, serve to prevent axialflow of the material comprising. the packing sleeve.

In this connection, it should be noted that the packing sleeve is madeofrubber or,.more1pr.ef- .erably, neoprene, or similar rubber-likematerial unaffected by well fiuids. However, it is known thatthesematerials have a tendency to coldflow andit is desirableto close thespace --at the endof the packing sleeve as much as possible.

ber. circumference of..the briclging plug so that .they

4 It will be noted that the slips are guided on both sides, as well astheir ends, by the slots in which they fit, so that they remainsubstantially equally spaced around the bridging plug, as shown in;F.'igure.8. Itwill also be. noted that it is not necessary for. eitherset of slips ,to slide along the casing before the other set of slipscome into contact .therewith, but both sets of slips come into con-,tact .with the casing virtually simultaneously.

This assures adequate engagement by both sets 7 of slips so that thebridging plug is securely locked Lagainst. eitherupward or downwardmovement,

and. even though, the forces against the bridging plug should alternateso that the pressure is first in one .directionand then in the otherthere is no aP reciableplay-er slack to'cause the bridging .plue; t.Workloos.

Reference is now directed to Figures 9, 10 and 11: The structure hereillustrated is essentially the same as the previously describedstructure, with the exception that the wedging: frustoc'onicalmembers.3l are-not provided with "tongues and slots;, instead, theslips.a32 are .providedwith tongues 33, as shown in- Figure 11. Theslips 32 are-initially positionedsogthat the tongues of one set of slipsfit -betWeen thetongues of the other set of slips. .Theupperfrusto-conical described structure, are provided with channels 34which receive tie-wires 35.

Operation of the structure .shown in Figures 9,:10, andll is thesame-asin-the first descrbied structure, ..that-is, each ifrusto-conical memberperforms two functions: it coactscwith its own set of slips and at thesame time urges the other set of slips upon,th'e other frusto-conicalmem- .The .slips preferably completely -fill the serve to hold eachother in. position; 'that is the .tonguesof one .setof slips-are guidedby :the other-set of slips.

Various changes and' alternate arrangements may .bemadewithizi :Ithe.scope .of the appended claims. in .which it. is. my .intention tolclaim .all

. novelty inherent. in a.the invention.

I claim: 1. A well tool comprising: a mandrel;.a. resilient packer;sleeve encireling said mandrel a-circum- :ferentially segmentedexpansiblerring around said ..mandr.el ateachendsof .saidpacker sleeve,each expansible ring being-initially. positioned-in abutment with theadjacent end of saidpackersleeve and being. freerto slideradially. and;to rotate. with respect .to .said packer sleeve, .each .expansible ringhavingfa fill-5170700111031 yboreportion outwardly diverging: in .a..dir.ecticn .away from the into continuous sealing. contact with theinside surface of a ,surroundingcasing, and thus together withsaid-.ex'pandingimembers sealing .the

.-annular..space-..between.thecasing. and said mantaining said segmentsin assembled and unexpanded position on said mandrel.

4. A well tool comprising: a mandrel; a resilient packer sleeveencircling said mandrel; a circumferentially expansible ring around saidmandrel at each end of said packer sleeve, each expansible ring beinginitially positioned in abutment with the adjacent end of said packersleeve and being free to slide radially and to rotate with respect tosaid packer sleeve, each expansible ring having a frusto-conical boreportion outwardly diverging in a direction away from the packer sleeve;an expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent that end of eachexpansible ring which is directed away from the packer sleeve, eachexpanding member having a frusto-conical portion insertible into thefrusto-conical bore portion of its adjacent expansible ring in wedgingengagement therewith, said rings thereby being expansible by saidexpanding members into continuous sealing contact with the insidesurface of a surrounding casing, and thus together with said expandingmembers sealing the annular space between the casing and said mandrel atthe ends of said packer sleeve to confine said packer sleeve axiallytherebetween; and means to actuate said expanding members to expand saidrings and packer sleeve.

5. A well tool comprising: a mandrel; a resilient packer sleeveencircling said mandrel; a circumferentially expansible ring around saidmandrel at one end of said packer sleeve, said expansible ring beinginitially positioned in abutment wth the adjacent end of said packersleeve and being free to slide radially and to rotate with respect tosaid packer sleeve, said expansible ring having a frusto-conical boreportion outwardly diverging in a direction away from said packer sleeve;a ring expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent the end ofsaid expansible ring which is directed away from said packer sleeve,said ring expanding member having a frustoconical portion insertibleinto the frusto-conical bore portion of said expansible ring in wedgingengagement therewith, said expansible ring thereby being expansible bysaid expanding member into continuous sealing contact with the insidesurface of a surrounding casing, and thus together with said expandingmember sealing the annular space between said mandrel and the casing atsaid one end of said packer sleeve to confine said one end of saidpacker sleeve; and means to actuate said expanding member to expand saidexpansible member.

6. A well tool comprising: a mandrel; a resilient packer sleeveencircling said mandrel; a circumferentially expansible ring around saidmandrel at one end of said packer sleeve, said ring being initiallypositioned in abutment with said one end of said packer sleeve and beingfree to slide radially and to rotate with respect to said packer sleeve;a ring expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent that end ofsaid expansible ring which is directed away from said packer sleeve,said ring expanding member having a irusto-conical outer surface whichdiverges in a direction away from said expansible ring, saidfrusto-conical outer surface being insertible into the bore portion ofsaid'expansible ring in wedging engagement therewith, said ring therebybeing expansible by said expanding member into continuous sealingcontact with the inside surface 01' a surrounding casing and thustogether with said expanding member sealing the annular space betweensaid mandrel and the casing at said one end of said packer sleeve toconfine said one end of said packer sleeve; and means to actuate saidexpanding member to expand said expansible ring.

'7. A well tool comprising: a mandrel; a resilient packer sleeveencircling said mandrel; an expansible ring around said mandrel at oneend of said packer sleeve, said expansible ring having an outerfrusto-conical surface outwardly diverging in a direction away from saidpacker sleeve, said outer frusto-conical surface being initiallypositioned in abutment with the adjacent end of said packer sleeve, saidexpansible ring being free to slide radially and to rotate with respectto said packer sleeve, and said expansible ri g having a Irusto-conicalbore portion outwardly diverging in a direction away from said packersleeve; a ring expanding member slidable on said mandrel adjacent thatend of said expansible ring which is directed away from said packersleeve, said ring expanding member having a frusto-conical portioninsertible into the frusto-conical bore portion of said expansible ringin wedging engagement therewith, said ring and said one end of saidpacker sleeve being expansible by said expanding member into continuoussealing contact with the inside surface of a surrounding casing, andthus together with said expanding member sealing the annular spacebetween said mandrel I outwardly of the ring and having a frusto-conicalouter peripheral surface at the end of the ring adjacent said one end ofsaid packer sleeve, said frusto-conical outer peripheral surface of saidring being initially positioned in said annular groove in said packersleeve and said ring being free to slide radially and to rotate withrespect to said packer sleeve; a ring expanding member slidable on saidmandrel adjacent that end of said expansible ring which is directed awayfrom said packer sleeve, said ring expanding member having afrusto-conical portion insertible into the adjacent frusto-conical boreportion of said expansible ring in wedging engagement therewith, saidring and said one end of said packer sleeve thereby being expansible bysaid expanding member into continuous sealing contact with the insidesurface of a surrounding casing, said expansible ring together with saidexpanding member sealing the annular space between said man-

